Wrist and finger exercising apparatus



(No Model R. BARCLAY.

WRIST AND FINGER EXERGISING APPARATUS. No. 505,745.

Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

Imn/ior fifiozertflarckg, 4 y A w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT BARCLAY, OF FORT HOWARD, WISCONSIN.

WRIST AND FINGER EXERCISING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,745, datedSeptember 26, 1893.

Application filed April 29, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ROBERT BARCLAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fort Howard, in the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin,have invented new and useful Improvements in Finger and Wrist ExercisingAppliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improvedexercising appliance, particularly designed to encircle the wrist and beoperated by the fingers and thu mb for exercising the wrist and fingersto remove stiifness therefrom, cure cramps, such as are incident totelegraphers, penmen, and others; and to generally act as a remedy forweak wrists and fingers to strengthen the same, and in many cases renderthem susceptible of use without undue fatigue.

To accomplish this object my invention consists essentially in anexercising appliance composed of a hollow band adapted to encircle thewrist, or other part of the body, such as the arm, a hand-pump adaptedto be grasped by the hand, and a tubular connection between thehand-pump and the hollow band, whereby the pump may be operated by thehand to force air into the hollow band.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing my invention applied to thewrist and hand of a person, and Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectionalview of the hollow band.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my inventionI will now describe the same in detail,referring to the drawings whereinthe numeral 1 indicates a hollow band of any material which is flexibleand adapted to be passed around the Wrist or arm, and secured inposition thereupon. The band is preferably flattened and about one inchin width; but the dimensions may be increased or diminished as desired.

The band is provided at one end with a strap 2, and at the opposite endwith a buckle 3 for adjusting and tightening or loosening the band onthe wrist, as will be obvious. The interior of the band communicateswith a hand-pump 4 through the medium of a tube or tubular connection 5,which is flexible and preferably composed of rubber integral with thewrist-band at itsjunction therewith. The

Serial No. 472,417. (No model.)

extremity 6 of the tube detachably connects with the nipple or mouth 7of the hand-pump, which latter is composed of an ordinary elastic bulbof that well known type which, when compressed, will force airtherefrom. The bulb constituting the hand-pump is so shaped or formed asto be grasped in the hand with the fingers and thumb resting thereuponin such manner that when thefingers and thumb are moved as in openingand closing them air will be forced through the tubular connection intothe hollow wrist-baud. The hollow band is provided with a perforation 8,such as a needle hole which permits the escape of sufficient air toprevent the band bursting.

The appliance described and shown provides a very simple, efficient, andeconomical means for exercising the wrist and fingers, and it serves notonly to exercise these parts to remove stiffness therefrom and make themsupple and elastic, but is also a remedy for cramps, such as are commonto telegraphers, penmen, and others.

The device is particularly useful for weak wrists and fingers, andserves to strengthen them, and thus render the same susceptible ofprolonged use without undue fatigue.

By detachably connecting the extremity 6 of the tube 5 with the nippleor mouth piece 7 of the hand-pump or bulb 4, the latter can be readilyremoved and replaced so that a new bulb can be applied if occasiondemands.

While I have illustrated the hollow band applied to the wrist, I do notconfine myself thereto, as it can be applied to some other part of thebody, for instance a sprained ankle or the arm, where it will have asoothing effect on the pain and reduce swellings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is The combination of ahollow wrist-band adapted to encircle the wrist, or other part of thebody, ahand-pump adapted to'be grasped in the hand, and a tubularconnection between the hollow band and the hand-pump, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT BARCLAY. WVitnesses:

E. BECKER, JOHN WHITNY.

